The seismic survey ship, Barbaros, which is frequently dispatched by Turkey when Cyprus is conducting explorations, was sailing some 39 nautical miles off the Paphos coast on Monday but far from the West Capella, the drillship working for Total in block 11.

Christodoulides said that what matters is the unconstrued implementation of the island’s energy plans “and, I repeat, this is done with no problem whatsoever.”

Last week, Ankara announced it had dispatched a frigate to monitor a drillship conducting offshore gas exploration south of the island.

On Thursday, Turkey’s foreign minister said it would take measures against Greek Cypriot exploration for oil or gas around Cyprus. He added that Turkish Cypriots had rights over those reserves.